Archives: October 25, 2020

Why Does Cold Water Fish Food Matter

Every significant development that takes place in your pond boils down to metabolism.

Algae and bacteria ratio, oxygen level, rain, and sunlight are some of the most typical factors that contribute heavily to the metabolisms of life in the pond. Although the majority of these contributing factors are unpredictable and impossible to control, there is one of many cases wherein you can tell that it is easy to predict and manage the impact of metabolism on your pond. The impact of pond water temperature on fish metabolism is one such instance.

Since pond fish are cold-blooded, their metabolisms are greatly affected by the weather. Whenever the pond water gets colder, their metabolisms slow down as well. Luckily, the metabolism slowdown can be dealt with by altering the fish food and the means of feeding them.

When it comes to fish feeding and pond water temperature, it is highly recommended that you follow the ensuing rule of thumb. Replace normal fish food with cold-water fish food if the water temperature drops below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Pause feeding completely if the temperature becomes 42 degrees Fahrenheit or less than that.

The point of halting the fish feeding once the temperature drops below 42 degrees Fahrenheit has to do with their slowed down metabolism that they will hardly need to eat at all. At this rate, any food you feed your fish will simply rot in the water and affect the health of the pond water negatively.

Coldwater fish food matters a lot because it has been designed cleverly for easy digestion. This will allow you to offer your fish only what they need during their slower metabolic state.

How to Treat Tea-Colored Pond Water

Pond water changes color over time, and brown or the tea-colored sort is among the most common pigments most koi pond owners will notice. Thankfully, this pigmentation can still be treated as long as you know the root cause of the problem and how to go about solving it.

The Root Cause

One key instance that causes water to turn brown or become tea-colored is the building up of tannins in it. A tannin is a form of a molecule that comes from specific species of plants. When plants break down and their leaves fall into the pond, they release tannins that apply such a glow to the water as a result.

The Solution

First, remove excess plant material from the water surface. These unwanted elements are comprised of leaves and sticks, so get rid of them as much as possible. Additionally, any leaves and sticks around the edges of the water could also affect water coloration, so dispose of them properly.

Second, inspect the bottom part of your pond. This step is sometimes overlooked, thus making the water still appear tea-colored. Once you have confirmed that the bottom of the pond is still packed with sufficient tannin-producing components, remove that stuck vegetation debris slowly but thoroughly.

Third, doing a fractional water change is a good idea as this process can help, too. If you want the tannins to break down over time with minimal effort, consider having bacteria and algae in your pond. For the fastest and least hassle way of tannin removal, think about adding activated carbon to your pond, which will stick with the tannins and take them out of the water.

How to Ascertain a Pregnant Koi

Japanese koi are widely known to be a low-maintenance type of fish when it comes to raising them. A few great things about koi are that they are very beautiful to look at and they can adapt to dynamic weather conditions or several climates. Koi typically spawn during spring and lay eggs, but how can you determine if they are pregnant?

1. Check If the Belly Looks Bumpy or Rounded

Look at your aquatic pet and check if the belly appears a bit bumpy or rounded. A pregnant koi’s physical appearance is best described as having an almost bloated look. You may notice that the pregnant koi looks like holding small marbles inside, but they are simply eggs that that fish will lay.

2. Feed It with High Protein During Pregnancy

Your koi must mate to lay eggs. Once you are fully aware of your koi’s pregnancy, feed it with high amounts of protein before it lays eggs. The purpose of feeding protein to your pregnant koi is to move the process of laying eggs forward effortlessly. Once your koi have mated successfully and laid eggs, those eggs will then adhere to a surface like the floor of a pond or tank.

3. Keep Track of Its Reproductive Age

Ascertain the age of your pet fish. One simple way to determine whether your koi have entered reproductive age is through the measurement of its length. If your koi measures 10 inches or beyond that, its reproductive organs have fully developed, so they can finally lay eggs by that time. Additionally, koi are ready to lay eggs around the age of three to four years.